A doggy AIBU

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

My MIL is visiting for the weekend. She is very, very nervous around dogs. Think screaming, flapping, general hysteria if one jumps at her. DH has taken a minimal interest in the puppy, and has done virtually no training. He has never had a dog before, and has no real dog experience. He can be a little nervous with the pup when he's chewy, but does feed him treats/take him for short walks etc. We have two DC (11 and 8). DH has taken offence that I wont go and get my hair cut/coloured on saturday leaving him, MIL and the DC with the puppy. I think it would be absolutely barking to leave a dog phobic adult, and an inexperienced adult, alone with a puppy and DC for four hours. Our house is small and open plan, so no wa of shutting puppy out and away from MIL. He thinks I'm being patronising. So, AIBU?

Yup your being patronising, it's a puppy, I'm sure they will cope, go and get your hair done.

You simply must stay.
Who will protect the poor pup otherwise?

Oh balls. Really? I suppose I'm worried that while I'm out, the puppy will go chew crazy and MIL will get 'bitten' leading to a full on meltdown and more hysterics than I can rightly cope with.

Bahahaha . Yes. Maybe it's the puppy who needs protection...

You could always rephrase it as wanting to spend the time with your MIL rather than helping them with the dog ;).

If it was me, I would want to be there, but I can also see that your DH would think it patronizing. They will probably be fine.

By the way, can you train MIL to ignore the dog completely? That would help, as then dog will leave her alone.

how old is the puppy?

Pup is 5 months, so not full grown but stronger now than when he was tiny. No chance of training MIL to do anything she likes the attention

5 mths and still a bit mad? Give MIL handfuls of high reward treats and get her to throw them into the garden whenever she feels threatened
This works with my mum on out 3 big dogs

Ooh. Top tip, Piffle :) I have some pepperami in the fridge.

How does your MiL feel about being left with the dog (and your DH/DC's)? It may be worth putting it to your DH that you are staying not because you don't believe in his ability to cope with the dog and DC's but because you'd like to be considerate to your MiL's phobia, as any good host would be.

If your MiL wasn't there, I'd say you're going to have to leave DH and DC's alone with the dog at some point and you may as well start as you mean to go on.